The Swiss Church in London

What The Swiss Church in London does

The Swiss Church in London is a 260+ year-old non-profit religious and charitable organization, registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee (charity no. 1094992), headquartered at 79 Endell Street in London's Covent Garden. Founded in 1762 as the Eglise Helvétique by expatriate Swiss residents (originally from Geneva, Vaud and Neuchâtel), it has occupied its current Grade II listed building since 1855 and operates in the Reformed tradition with multilingual services in English, French, and German. Core activities include fortnightly Sunday worship, life-cycle ceremonies (baptisms, weddings, funerals), pastoral care, and a Music Programme anchored by a 676-pipe Späth Orgelbau organ installed during a £2.2M renovation completed in 2011.

The organization runs two notable non-worship programmes: a Visual Arts Programme (exhibitions, artist residencies, and community projects such as PORTALS, NO KIDS, and The 13th Zodiac) and Breakfast on the Steps, a weekly Tuesday morning homeless ministry offering breakfast, toiletries, clothing, and an associated Arts Club. These sit alongside Swiss community activities (La Causerie, Mothers' Group, VEGSIL alumni, Swiss Families events) and venue hire of the main church space (173sqm, up to 150 capacity), Gallery Room, and commercial kitchen for concerts, weddings, and corporate events. The Consistoire governs the charity and includes an ex-officio observer from the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded, not commercial. Income is generated through voluntary online and bank-transfer donations (via CAF Online and direct transfers), venue hire fees, and grants from Arts Council England, the Henry Moore Foundation, the Swiss Cultural Fund, EKS Swiss Abroad Churches Fund, and Kirchkreis 9. Core religious services are provided free of charge; the organization does not charge for worship. With 7 employees and a single London location, it is a small heritage charity whose growth is constrained by physical capacity rather than market demand.

Name

The Swiss Church in London

Legal name

The Swiss Church in London

Website

https://swisschurchlondon.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1762

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Swiss Church in London is a 260-year-old Reformed-tradition non-profit (charity no. 1094992) at a Grade II listed Covent Garden venue, serving the roughly 20,000-strong Swiss diaspora in Greater London with multilingual worship, life-cycle ceremonies, a Visual Arts Programme, and a weekly homeless ministry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Venue hire services
• Homeless outreach ministry
• Community arts programming
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Swiss Church in London is an independent charitable religious organization that provides Reformed-tradition worship services, community outreach to homeless and Swiss expatriate communities, contemporary visual arts exhibitions and residencies, music programming on its Späth organ, pastoral care, life-cycle ceremonies, and venue hire from its Grade II listed building in Covent Garden. It operates as a registered charity (no. 1094992) structured as a company limited by guarantee.

Product overview

The Swiss Church in London is a community organization offering a portfolio of spiritual, cultural, and outreach services centered around its Grade II listed Covent Garden venue. Core offerings include regular Church Services (worship in the Reformed tradition), Venue Hire (for concerts, weddings, and events), and a Visual Arts Programme (exhibitions and artist residencies). The Music Programme features organ recitals and choir concerts on the Swiss-built Späth organ. Community outreach includes Breakfast on the Steps homeless ministry, Arts Club, and Swiss Community Services (family events, cultural groups). Life Cycle Ceremonies cover baptisms, weddings, and funerals. The church also publishes the Swiss Church News newsletter. These services are unified by the church's mission to share unconditional love and create hope, belonging, and creativity in Central London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Church Services Regular Sunday worship services in the Reformed tradition combining preaching, prayer, and music. Services are held fortnightly on the first and third Sunday of each month, with communion on the first Sunday. Open to all.
• Venue Hire Rental of the Swiss Church's Central London venue in Covent Garden for events including concerts, weddings, fashion shows, receptions, business events, and formal dinners. Includes main church space (173sqm, max 150 people), Gallery Room (26sqm, 20-30 people), and fully equipped commercial kitchen.
• Breakfast on the Steps Weekly Tuesday morning homeless ministry providing breakfast (7:30-9:00am), essential toiletries, clothing, free haircuts, and a safe welcoming space for people facing homelessness and poverty. Includes the Arts Club creative refuge component.
• Visual Arts Programme Contemporary art exhibitions, installations, artist residencies, and collaborative projects transforming the church into a space where creativity, dialogue, and community converge. Supports emerging and mid-career artists and provides creative opportunities for people with less access to artistic programmes.
• Music Programme Music programme featuring organ recitals on the Swiss-built Späth organ, choir concerts with High Holborn Chamber Choir and Southwark Chamber Choir, and regular musical accompaniment during Sunday services. Includes the Max Reger Festival.
• Swiss Community Services Activities for Swiss nationals in London including Swiss Family events, Swiss Family Christmas, La Causerie (French-speaking lunch group), Mothers' Group, and VEGSIL alumni association. Cultural gatherings and networking opportunities.
• Life Cycle Ceremonies Church ceremonies including baptisms, confirmations, weddings (with marriage registration for Swiss couples), and funerals. Personalised services marking significant life milestones.
• Pastoral Care Confidential counselling and support services offered providing a listening ear, spiritual support, and practical help for those facing challenges.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Henry Moore FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding support for visual arts exhibitions and programming at the Swiss Church, supporting the cultural programming initiatives.
• London Graphic CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting arts exhibitions and programming at the Swiss Church.
• Arts Council EnglandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding and support for arts programming and exhibitions at the Swiss Church.
• Goldsmiths University of LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with MA Design Expanded Practice students for exhibition projects and creative collaborations.
• London College of Communication (LCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration with LCC MA Sound Arts program for exhibitions and student projects.
• High Holborn Chamber ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular choir performances during Sunday services and public concerts at the Swiss Church.
• Southwark Chamber ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular choir performances during Sunday services and public concerts at the Swiss Church.
• Hypha StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for artist residencies and studio space programs.
• Swiss Cultural FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding support for Swiss cultural programming and arts exhibitions.
• Federation Swiss Societies in the UK (FOSSUK)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUmbrella organization for Swiss clubs and societies in the UK, with shared events calendar and community coordination.
• Christ & GantenbeinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm that designed the major renovation and transformation project of the Swiss Church building (2008-2011).
• Späth OrgelbauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned organ building firm from Rapperswil, Switzerland that built the fully mechanical organ installed during the renovation.
• thirty:one eightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternal safeguarding partner providing safeguarding support and helpline services for the church.
• Monte z Press RadiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadio partner for broadcasting arts program content including 'Elemental Sounds' by Amanda Camenisch & Therese Westin.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Swedish Church in London: Expatriate Nordic Protestant congregation in central London serving Swedish nationals with trilingual services, community groups, and cultural programming. Closest analogue of the Swiss Church's diaspora-mission, language, and community-building model.
• Christ Church Spitalfields: Heritage central London church that has combined venue hire concerts, arts programming, and community services with restricted use of a listed building. Comparable trade-off between heritage preservation and commercial programming that the Swiss Church faces.
• St Martin-in-the-Fields: Central London church at Trafalgar Square operating a parallel model of worship, active homeless outreach (the Connection at St Martin's), venue hire, and a concert/arts programme. Directly comparable operating profile in congregational services, social outreach, and commercial venue use.
• St James's Church Piccadilly: Christopher Wren central London church with a strong arts and music programme, regular venue hire, and inclusive community outreach. Closely comparable to the Swiss Church in its London-located cultural/income-generating mix.
• The American Church in London: Long-standing expat Protestant church in central London combining worship, community programming, and arts/music events for a national diaspora. Comparable to the Swiss Church in serving international residents and offering cultural anchor functions.
• The French Church in London (Église française de Londres): French-speaking Reformed tradition congregation in central London serving the French expatriate community. Shares the Swiss Church's Reformed heritage, multilingual ministry, and diaspora congregation profile.
• The Actors' Church (St Paul's Covent Garden): Neighbouring Covent Garden church with a strong arts-calendar programming model, venue hire, and community outreach. Geographic and operational peer to the Swiss Church's arts/community footprint in central London.

Regional players

• Swiss Church Paris (Église protestante suisse de Paris): European sister Swiss diaspora church operating a similar Reformed-tradition congregation, community outreach, and cultural programme in Paris. Most direct cross-border functional analogue of the Swiss Church's mission and funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Eglise Réformée de France (EELF): National Reformed-tradition church network operating across France with linguistic and theological alignment to the Swiss Church's French-speaking constituency. Provides context for the broader Reformed Protestant ecosystem from which the Swiss Church draws historical and ecumenical ties.
• Southwark Cathedral: Large London church with an established visual arts programme, music concerts, venue hire, and outreach services. Operates a broader portfolio with greater scale but a similar mix of worship, cultural programming, and community engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/swisschurchlondon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-swiss-church-in-london-2
• Instagraminstagram.com/swisschurchlondon/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Swiss Church in London